July 2010

She is CRAZY!

That's how I describe her. Luci is non-stop - dancing, singing, running, climbing - there's no end. Her energy level is so high - I find it hard to keep up with her at times. I call her my monkey.

We finally joined a pool by our house, and she is loving it. We go swimming all the time - as long as it's nice when I get home from work - I pack her up and go. I love having that time with her. She is fearless in the water too - putting her face in, blowing bubbles, splashing around, even going under water.

She is starting to eat with a fork. She is insistent on being independent when it comes to using it. She needs help with spearing the food, but she is able to get it into her mouth without a problem.

The addition of little Gemma has made this past month exciting. Luci loves her. When she sees her, she extends her arms and repeats "baba, baba." And of course she licks her all over to give her kisses. It's adorable.

We had a rough patch earlier this month at night. Luci would wake up screaming in the middle of the night. The only thing that would calm her would be to let her sleep in our bed. This lasted for about 2 weeks - 4 molars coming in at once! Now they finally broke through the gums, she sleeps through the night again...thank goodness!

We are so excited for our vacation coming up - first trip to the beach!

Here are pictures from the last month!

Update

My friend seems to be beating all the odds.

She has been extubated and is responding a little more everyday.

The big problem is her anoxic brain injury - which basically refers to the period of time when her brain was deprived of oxygen.

Medically, I know this is not usually very promising in terms of recovery - but she is making such big improvements so quickly that I really think that we are witnessing a miracle.

Please keep your prayers coming - I really believe they are being heard!

Thanks!

Summer reading

I just finished Charlie St. Cloud.

You may recognize the title because the movie is premiering soon and the trailers have been on TV.

I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie.

It was really good - I highly recommend it.

It ironically coincides with the situation that we are in with my friend - you'd have to read it to see.

Hope that the movie is as good as the book.

Still in need

Although my friend has survived an occurrence which takes most mothers' lives within the first hour, she is still fighting for her life. She has been transferred to a neuro ICU, and her husband has been getting contradicting prognoses - one hopeful, one pretty grim.

We still need every one's prayers - please remember my friend in yours!

A request

A very close friend of mine had MAJOR complications during childbirth over the weekend. She is stable, but not out of the woods yet.

Please include her in your prayers.

PS Her baby is fine.

Fireworks - a little early

So yesterday was a big day.

We were taking John's mom out to dinner

for her birthday.

And Marina was contracting,

so she headed to the hospital.

Therefore I made a plan:

1. Stop at Walgreens for cards.

2. Stop at Oakmont Bakery for the cake.

3. Drop Luci off at my aunt's in Shadyside.

4. Drop cake off at the restaurant.

5. Go to hospital to see Marina for a little

6. Go back the restaurant for dinner

7. Go back to the hospital

I got as far as #2.

When I wanted to leave the bakery,

my car wouldn't start.

I went back into the bakery and found someone with jumper cables

I ended up having 2 different groups of people helping me.

I was able to get some juice from the jumps,

just not enough to get the car going.

So a Good Samaritan (seriously) came by -

he drove to an Advanced Auto shop,

bought a battery,

came back to the bakery,

and installed it.

I didn't have enough cash on me,

so he just gave me his card,

and trusted me to send him a check.

It 's so nice to know that there are
people like that in this world.

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In other news - my niece arrived!

Her name is Gemma

12:48am - 4th of July baby!

7 lbs, 7 oz.